Figured we might as well start one. Here's a good spring training update to get started:

Inside Pitch

Now you know why the Tigers didn’t want to just give Brandon Inge away.


Inge’s value to the Tigers shot way up Sunday when it was disclosed that center fielder Curtis Granderson will miss three weeks because of a non-displaced fracture of a bone in his right middle finger. He was hit by a pitch Saturday, and X-rays determined the break.


Manager Jim Leyland will use the last week of exhibition games to experiment with alternate batting orders, but Inge showed both in 2004 and this spring he is a more than capable replacement in center field defensively. He has hit well this spring, too, but those statistics don’t count as of March 31.

Inge wanted an opportunity to play regularly when he learned this winter he was being displaced as Detroit’s third baseman by Miguel Cabrera. The Tigers were willing to accommodate his request—but not if it meant picking up part of his salary and not if it meant they would have to accept a low-level prospect in return.

So Inge reported to the Tigers’ spring training camp and pouted at first about catching—he said it affected his hitting, which wasn’t that hot last year anyway—before recanting and agreeing to do what he was asked. What he was asked to do was work out in the outfield, at third, at short and behind the plate.


Leyland wanted to give him as much exposure as his bat and defensive skills warranted, and planned to try him at second base, too, to expand his versatility to Detroit and demonstrate his value to other teams. Inge needed a revival after he hit his way out of the lineup last year, batting .236 with a dramatic run-production drop.


But when the injury occurred that would give Inge an opportunity to become a regular, it happened in Detroit, not somewhere else.


The Tigers have other options, but Inge would seem to be best suited for playing center field on a regular basis.


Ryan Raburn can also play center, but not as well as Inge. So can left fielder Jacque Jones, which would put outfielder/first baseman Marcus Thames in left.


So can Freddy Guzman, still with the team, and Brent Clevlen, who has been sent back to minor league camp. One of them is likely to be with the Tigers until Granderson gets back in mid-April.


Granderson’s injury could be a big break for Inge. If he hits, he could muscle his way to more at-bats with Detroit—and increase his attractiveness when misfortune strikes someone else.


If he doesn’t hit, well, they say there’s a lot of shade on the bench on those hot summer days.


Primed For A Big Season: RHP Justin Verlander and 3B Miguel Cabrera. Verlander has three outstanding pitches and 35 victories in his first two seasons. He has looked solid this spring and has the work ethic to complement his skills. Cabrera spent the winter slimming down and is coming to a team of veterans who will show him how to refine his superstar skills. Cold weather might affect him more than switching leagues initially.


On The Decline: LHP Dontrelle Willis has shown a live arm, but his control this spring has been spotty, as it was during his last two seasons with Florida. The inability to throw strikes early in the count have marked his steady two-year falloff from a 22-win 2005 season.


Notes, Quotes

• CF Curtis Granderson was projected to be out until mid-April because of a non-displaced fracture in his right middle finger. He was hit by a pitch Saturday and placed on the disabled list Sunday after X-rays disclosed the break. His hand was placed in a splint, and Granderson was expected to be able to begin working out again in two weeks. “You never like to lose a player,” GM Dave Dombrowski said, “but it’s a short-term thing.” Detroit could use UT Brandon Inge as its primary center fielder until Granderson returns. Other options include UT Ryan Raburn (on a spot basis) along with OF Freddy Guzman, who is still in camp, and OF Brent Clevlen, who has been sent to minor league camp.


• UT Brandon Inge became the front-runner to take over in center field temporarily when CF Curtis Granderson was placed on the disabled list Sunday because of a right middle finger fracture. Inge played center on a spot basis in 2004 before settling in as Detroit’s regular third baseman. He got a brush-up on his outfield skills this spring as part of the plan to make him a multi-position player again. He lost his job when Detroit acquired 3B Miguel Cabrera this winter.


• 3B Miguel Cabrera has agreed to a seven-year extension, assuming he passes a physical, that will pay him $140 million, according to multiple reports. Detroit, which agreed to an $11.3 million contract with Cabrera to avoid arbitration while it worked out the new deal, committed to signing its new third baseman to a long-term deal when it obtained him from Florida during the winter. “I feel comfortable here,” said Cabrera, who reported for spring training in much better shape than he was last year. Cabrera, who turns 25 next month, will average $19 million over the life of the deal, which is the fourth-highest in baseball history behind those of Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez, Yankees SS Derek Jeter and Boston LF Manny Ramirez. Cabrera is a four-time All-Star with 138 career home runs who has averaged .318 with 32 homers and 115 RBI the last four seasons. He has played at least 157 games in four full seasons. His 2008 contract plus the seven additional years total about $153.3 million.


• RHP Yorman Bazardo drew the start Sunday against Cleveland in place of RHP Jeremy Bonderman. Detroit shifted Bonderman over to minor league camp to get his innings and pitches in. Detroit wanted another look at Bazardo against quality competition, and he certainly was impressive—he didn’t allow a hit or a walk in his three innings. The Tigers could be showcasing him for a deal or could be deciding whether Bazardo, who is out of options, should be in their bullpen to open the season.


• RHP Fernando Rodney was cleared by Dr. Stephen Lemos, Detroit’s orthopedic specialist, to resume playing catch. The Tigers said Rodney, plagued by right shoulder tendinitis all spring, could be throwing off a mound by the end of the week. Rodney was placed on the disabled list in the middle of last week because he has not thrown to a hitter all spring and only occasionally had felt well enough to do anything more than play catch. He will remain in Lakeland when the Tigers break camp and will be brought back slowly.


• LHP Dontrelle Willis has been alternately good and bad this spring, but the same control problems that have marked his last two seasons seem to have followed him to Detroit. “You can’t pitch like that,” manager Jim Leyland said after Willis allowed five runs on seven hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings Saturday. “Nobody can.” He followed the outing with a bullpen session to see if he could get his fastball under control. Willis has walked 10 and given up nine earned runs in his last 8 2/3 innings. “I have to do a better job of going out there and making guys hit the ball,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how hard you throw, I just want guys to swing and swing early. I haven’t been doing that.” “He pitches with a funky delivery,” Leyland said. “I don’t mind a funky delivery, but I’d like to see consistent funky delivery, not variations of funk.”


• UT Ryan Raburn caught for the second time in a spring game Friday, prompting manager Jim Leyland to say, “he can be used there in an emergency.” Raburn will be used as a backup infielder and outfielder with the Tigers this season.


• RHP Denny Bautista had his first shaky outing of the spring last week and gave up his first runs of the exhibition season. Detroit made two errors behind him, but he was also behind every hitter he faced. “Everybody on this staff,” manager Jim Leyland said, “is probably going to have an opportunity for a while to pitch in the eighth inning. Here it is: Somebody wants to take it, fine. If you don’t, we’ll just keep fooling around with it. I think we have a bunch of people physically equipped to do it. Are they mentally equipped? We’ll find out. We’re trying to weigh everything and make good choices. Somebody’s got Denny Bautista on the team already. I don’t remember anybody saying Bautista is on the team. I guess you guys have it figured out. I don’t have it figured out. It will take care of itself. We’ll have the guys we feel are the best guys and we’ll have them by the time we leave here (March 27).”


By The Numbers: 181—Streak of consecutive errorless games 2B Placido Polanco will take into the first game of the season. The major league record streak for a second baseman began in July 2006.


Quote To Note: “I feel comfortable here.”—3B Miguel Cabrera after news leaked of the eight-year contract extension he had agreed to with Detroit calling for an average $19 million per season.


Roster Report

The Tigers could be a 1,000-pound weight (the lineup) hanging by a single strand of sewing thread (the bullpen). Injuries to RHP Joel Zumaya and RHP Fernando Rodney have left Detroit’s relief staff short of back-end strength. There are only hopes and prayers if something dire should happen to one of the starters, too. The loaded lineup figures to hit enough to keep the Tigers in playoff contention, but the real race will be to get the bullpen stabilized for the end of the season.


Rotation:


1. RHP Justin Verlander


2. LHP Kenny Rogers


3. RHP Jeremy Bonderman


4. LHP Nate Robertson


5. LHP Dontrelle Willis


Verlander has looked 20-game-winner sharp this spring, but Willis has shown signs that his two-year-slide is a trend, not an aberration. Rogers has looked good but is 43, while Robertson has looked a lot like the pitcher who keyed Detroit’s 2006 run to the World Series. Bonderman has had no elbow problems and looks as if he’s serious about using his changeup now, which could be the key to a dominating season for him. The Tigers need them all to stay relatively healthy, though, because there is no ready replacement available.


Bullpen:


RHP Todd Jones (closer)


RHP Denny Bautista


LHP Bobby Seay


RHP Jason Grilli


RHP Zach Miner


LHP Tim Byrdak


RHP Yorman Bazardo


RHP Fernando Rodney opens the season on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis, leaving the Tigers with no proven setup man. Jones has been erratic in the spring; is that a tipoff that his career is coming to an end at age 40? Byrdak has pitched poorly this spring, but he was also weak a year ago before a good month in the minors brought him to Detroit. Manager Jim Leyland will use his pitchers in the late innings according to matchups and hope one of them steps up as a reliable setup man. RHP Joel Zumaya won’t be available until midseason at the earliest. RHP Aquilino Lopez will be just a phone call away if help is needed; he was good in spots last year. A spring trade is a good possibility.


Lineup:


1. SS Edgar Renteria


2. 2B Placido Polanco


3. DH Gary Sheffield


4. RF Magglio Ordonez


5. 3B Miguel Cabrera


6. 1B Carlos Guillen


7. C Ivan Rodriguez


8. CF Brandon Inge


9. LF Jacque Jones


Manager Jim Leyland said he didn’t know what his lineup would be after it was disclosed that CF Curtis Granderson will open the season on the disabled list, but Leyland also said that Polanco will hit second no matter what. Renteria hit leadoff in an exhibition game March 23 and might share that role with Rodriguez, who has hit leadoff against lefties in the past. Inge is the most likely candidate to replace Granderson, who is expected to be out until mid-April.


There is speculation Detroit could score 1,000 runs this year, but manager Jim Leyland would settle for 900 and no long-term injuries. Most of the regulars have some age on them, but there is enough help on the bench to ensure they all get enough rest. Rodriguez will lead off when Granderson gets the day off against some left-handers.


Reserves:


UT/C Brandon Inge


OF/1B Marcus Thames


SS Ramon Santiago


UT/C Ryan Raburn


C Vance Wilson, still recovering from Tommy John surgery last June, has been placed on the disabled list and won’t be back until May at the earliest. Raburn is strictly an emergency catcher with Inge the primary (if unwilling) backup to C Ivan Rodriguez. Thames figures to spell the corner outfielders and 1B Carlos Guillen.


Rookie Watch: The Tigers stripped their system of ready top prospects to beef up their lineup. They see RHP Virgil Vasquez as most advanced if they need rotation help, and INFs Michael Hollimon and Scott Sizemore are possibilities for utility duty by the end of the season. OF Brent Clevlen is ready defensively but needs to show he can make consistent contact enough to be of help offensively. The top pitching prospect, RHP Rick Porcello, won’t be ready until at least 2009.


Medical Watch:


CF Curtis Granderson (non-displaced fracture of right middle finger) was placed on the disabled list March 23 and expected to be out until mid-April.


RHP Joel Zumaya (right shoulder AC joint surgery) is throwing lightly on a regular basis but won’t be pitching for another couple of months and will be out until at least midseason. No one knows how effective he will be when he returns, either.


C Vance Wilson (Tommy John surgery) has been placed on the disabled list as he continues to progress slowly from June 13 Tommy John surgery. He hopes to return by the end of April, but even that is uncertain.


RHP Fernando Rodney (right shoulder tendinitis) has been placed on the disabled list, in part so the club won’t be tempted to rush the setup man back too early. He will rehabilitate in the warm weather.


SS Edgar Renteria (back strain) missed three games as a precaution but reportedly would have played had this been the regular season.

Helluva post... nice work!

Here's hoping we'll get past the Indians and make the playoffs this year. Looks like the lineup is poised for a run this season!

Kirk Gibson was a Dodger

And once a Tiger always a Tiger unless you go to Boston.

We cheered the HR off of Eckersley like it happened here. That was awesome.

Why do Tigers fans hate Boston? Is there some rivalry that I'm not aware of?

That was one hell of a HR though.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that the hatred is not simply limited to Tigers fans.

I would say that's a pretty sturdy limb, was just wondering if there was anything more to it.

i think it has more to do with his sig and coach's "sports capitol of the world" thread than anything significant.

i think this thread will rival only the steelers thread with the number of times ry-bread posts consecutively...

i have jones and dtrain on fantasy so i hope they do well..i wanted miggy bad, but there was no way at pick #12

I hope the bull pen quits dickin' the dog.

D-Train looks D-Railed this spring. Scary. Bring Porcello up for the rotation and make Willis the closer?

um, he's looked that way for a while.

no idea why the tigers signed him so early.

Part of the strategy to re-sign Miggy. Keep his Buddy Dontrelle around...I don't know.

The second-best Sports Illustrated of the year
By 'Duk
Do I really have to tell you what the first is?

Body paint aside, it's tough to beat SI's Baseball Preview, no matter how much coverage we read in other outlets during the spring. Why is SI still relevant in an age of oversaturation? Easy. I just visited the mailbox and got a little 'baseball-is-close' tingle when I saw it buried in a pile of bills and junk ads.

(The mag's arrival also helped dampen my disappointment that my copy of MLB Power Pros for PS2 hadn't arrived yet. Can anyone tell me what to expect?)

I will read more of the issue tonight, but the big news seems to be that the magazine picks the Tigers to beat the Cubs in the World Series. That's interesting because it'd be a matchup of what could have been the 1984 World Series and also because I don't think it's going to happen. At least not with the Cubs current rotation. However, the Tigers seem like a solid choice. No argument there.

(By the way, I'll have my official season picks for you on Friday.)

I also love the layout of the cover, which just screams out "We're not ESPN! We don't have an East Coast bias!" ... Milwaukee's Ryan Braun, Arizona's Justin Upton and Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki are all on the front flap, while Washington's Ryan Zimmerman and Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury and Clay Buchholz are on the inside.

The tie that binds: They're all '05 draft picks and all thankfully got their names spelled right.

A picture of the inside flap and SI's division picks after the jump ...


2008 SI predictions

AL East — New York Yankees

AL Central — Detroit Tigers

AL West — Los Angeles Angels

AL Wild Card — Boston Red Sox

NL East — New York Mets

NL Central — Chicago Cubs

NL West — Colorado Rockies

NL Wild Card —Arizona Diamondbacks

Playoffs

ALDS — Tigers over Red Sox, Yankees over Angels

NLDS — Cubs over D'backs, Rockies over Mets

ALCS — Tigers over Yankees, NLCS — Cubs over Rockies

World Series — Tigers over Cubs (Yeah, someone's definitely drinking the 100 year Kool-Aid.)

Don't make fun -- Sports Illustrated is usually spot on with its predictions.

I wasn't making fun, but that bullpen does scare me.

Cool that Inge got such a great response from the crowd during intro's yesterday.

yup, I could totally see Cabrera telling the Tigers, "you know, that $140 million really sounds good, but I'm not going to take it unless you keep the D-Train".

you guys got miss america to throw out the first pitch, huh? think she ever takes the crown off?

I would have rather seen a tiara wearing Chewbacca throw out the first pitch.







We'll see what happens!